Thryroid Surgery and Endogenous Depression

[Meridity]

Dr. Lupo: I have been successfully treated for endogenous depression for 37 years. I currently have a .8 papillary microcarcinoma on the left side of my thyroid.  I am also multinodular but the other nodules biopsied were benign.  Most endocrinologists with whom I speak want me to have a full thyroidectomy, but I have found a head and neck surgeon who said he'll do a partial (lobectomy and an isthmusectomy), as long as I am closely followed afterwards re: remaining lobe (after all, that's what the guidelines of the American Thyroid Assn. for a microcarcinoma says).  My major concern is my depression.  Since the thyroid affects mood, I'm wondering if there are any statistics on people who live with depression BEFORE their thyroidectomy, and if it got worse after, and if doing a partial is the way to go for mental health concerns.  Do you have an opinion about this?  Thank you.  

[Barb135]

Once you've posted, the mods are the only ones who can delete.

Wishing you a lot of luck.  Feel free to stay in touch and let us know what you find out.

[Meridity]

Again, thanks Barb! I didn't mean to post multiple times! I tried to delete them but I guess once you've posted, there's no way to delete, or is there?  And thanks for your sound advice...

[Barb135]

Obviously, I'm not a doctor.  I'd guess that you might have to make some med adjustments, since part of your depression could actually be caused by your thyroid and symptoms may be relieved if you start on replacement hormones.  You'd have to talk to your doctors about that.

I notice that you have a couple other threads posted to Dr Lupo.  If you're posting those through the expert forum, and they're getting dumped in our forum, that means the expert forum has taken as many questions as they will for today... You should wait until tomorrow and try again.

[Meridity]

Thanks Barb. I know depression can be a stand-alone symptom of depression. I'm just trying to find out if there are statistics re: endogenous depression (not thyroid caused depression) and post thyroidectomy.  I know I will need meds, but is there a risk my long standing depression will get worse (because it's a delicate balance...)  

[Barb135]

This is a patient forum and Dr Lupo does not monitor it.  If you want him to answer personally, you'll need to post in the expert forum.  The expert forum only accepts a given number of questions/day, so if you posted there and ended up here, they've had all the questions they're accepting for today.

Are you currently on a thyroid replacement medication?  If so, which one, at what dosage and for how long.    While depression is often a stand alone condition, it's also a symptom of thyroid conditions.  Even after you have a lobectomy, there's a good chance that you would have to take replacement hormones, if the lobe that's left doesn't produce enough hormones.  The endos who advocate TT are probably doing so, to eliminate the possibility of recurring carcinoma or other issues that would require additional surgery.